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T. H. BROWN, Jr. Temporary Binder.

No. 237,955.. Patented Feb. 22,1881.

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ETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D c

NITED STATES PATENT trite.

THOMAS H. BRO WN, JR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STEPHEN OLARY,OF SAME PLACE.

TEMPORARY BINDER.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,955, dated February22, 1881.

Application filed September 16, 1879.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. BROWN, Jr., of the city of Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Temporary Binders; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referenceto marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an indexing temporary binder of the generalcharacter described in Letters Patent No. 196,558, and dated October30,1877; and it consists in certain improvements, hereinafter fully setforth, which have for their'object to make the device more convenientand durable, and to adapt it to be used as a temporary binder from whichthe contents,

including the index-leaves, may be from time to time removed in a massfor permanent filing elsewhere.

My invention consists, first, in a temporary binder-case, the coverwhereof is centrally hinged at the back and provided with sides risingto a height equal to the full depth of the case; second, in a casehaving an inner inclosure; third, in the arrangement of the rod wherebythe leaves of the index are made re- 3 movable ln the'drawin gs, Figure1 shows myimproved file as it appears when thrown open for the receptionor removal of papers. Fig. 2 is a central transverse vertical section ofthe same closed. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section, showing anovel construction of the index-leaves. Fig. 4 shows a device by whichthe removable rod is automatically thrown upward, so as to be easilyseized and withdrawn 4,0 when the button by which it is held is turned.

A represents the body or receptacle of the case, and B the cover. S andS are the ends, respectively, of the cover and the body. b and b are theback pieces, and C is a piece 4 5 applied to the side of the cover,forming a front piece to the closed file.

In the file described in the Letters Patent above referred to, and inother filingcases heretofore made, the cover has been 5 hinged to thetop of the body or receivingpor- 'closed.

tion of the file. I herein show these parts hinged in the middle of theback, so that when the file is opened both body and cover lie flat uponthedesk or tabl'e,obviatingthe previouslyexisting tendency to break atthe hinge. Thus, as seen in Fig. l, the back pieces, I) and b, are ofequal height, and no strainfalls on the hinge at a when the case isspread open on the table. The edges of the ends S and S incline equallyfrom the hinge a toward the sides of the file. Those of the cover widentoward the front piece, 0, and by attachment thereto, for a greater partof its width, rigidly support the same at right angles with the toppiece, B. Those of. the body S narrow equally toward the open orsideless face of the receptacle A,

so that when the case is closed it forms a rectangular box of uniformdepth and wholly in- To make the entire depth of the case sodividedavailable for papers, the supple- 7o mental end pieces, D, and backpieces, F, are inserted in the body, being placed close to the ends Sand back I), and permanently secured thereto. The horizontal piece E issecured both to the back F and ends D in the position shown. The bodythus constructed is very rigid, and calculated to permanently retain itsform.

P is a vertical metal rod, passing down through the ledge or horizontalpiece E, and supported laterally at its foot by entering the bottom A.The rod is held removably in place by the stop-plate c, pivoted to E atone side of the rod, so as to turn either to cover or uncover thelatter, as may be required, for its retention or to permit its removal.To give greater durability, the metal socket s, Fig. 2, may be insertedin the case-bottom as a footing for the rod P; but as the rod issomewhat difficult to seize for the purpose of withdrawing it when thefile is full, I prefer to use the foot-spring s, Fig. 4, which, whilelaterally holding, also bears upward on the tapered or shouldered footof the rod, and when the stopplate or button a is turned to one sidelifts 5 the rod a short distance, as shown in dotted lines of saidfigure.

The rod 1? is intended to hold the index in place during the process offilling the file, and it is made removable for the purpose of allow- :00

ing the index and the contained papers to be bodily withdrawn andanother index substituted in the place of that removed.

I is an index composed of a suitable number of leaves L, bearingmarginal index-letters distributed in the usual or any desired order.The upper leaf, L, is made heavier than the others, for the purpose ofbetter receiving the sliding pressure of the spring G attached to thecover.

Near the back edge of all of the indexleaves, and at right anglestherewith, a smooth oblong aperture, H, with rounded ends, is made, ofsuch width as to freely work on the rod 1?, which passes through therear or inner end of said aperture. The form of this aperture, in thisconnection, will constitute the subject of a claim in a separateapplication for patent.

It has been customary to make each leaf of the index entirely separatefrom the others. Fig. 3 of the drawings shows such leaves joined inpairs, two being made of a single piece of paper folded inwardly at theback. It is an advantage of this construction that the several leavesare less likely to turn horizontally on the rod I and thus get out ofplace, by reason of their union with one another, and because each haspractically the broad hearing of two separated edges against the back Fof the case.

The filing-case herein described is intended to form the temporaryhinder, or one such of a system of cases which embraces also a number orseries of permanent binders intended to successively receive thecontents of the temporary case as, in the course of business, the

latter is filled. A desirable form of permanent filing-case forms thesubject of an application for patent of even date herewith.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. A temporary binder-casehaving the body and cover centrally hinged at the back, and in which thewalls of the body or receptacle rise to the height of the cover when thefile is closed, whereby the full depth of the closed file is madeavailable for papers, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the cover and body of a temporary binder-casecentrally hinged to each other at the back, and having the sides S andS, which meet to give uniform depth to the closed case, the inner sidepieces, D D, and back F, applied to the body so as to extend upwardwithin the cover, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A temporary binder-case having a bottom, sides D, end F, and theledge E, in combination with the rod I inserted through the ledge andlaterally supported at the bottom in a socket, s, as described, and thebutton 0, arranged to hold the rod in place, substantially as set forth.

4. The spring 8, in combination with the rod P and button 0,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. BROWN, JR.

XVitnesses M. E. DAYTON, W. O. ADAMS.

